Two appointments from your Majesty came last year to this metropolitan church of Manila.  One was to the deanship, of Santiago de Castro, a sick man who has not left his house for more than three years.  He is sick and old, and so deaf that he can hold no intercourse or communication with men.  Consequently, he is expecting death daily, and he may therefore be numbered among the dead, as far as human intercourse is concerned.  This alone could hinder the execution of his appointment, for in other things he has excellent qualifications for the dignity.  Since his condition renders him unfit for service, and since the dean must necessarily take upon himself the management and headship of the cabildo, much consideration should be given to this appointment—­especially as another appointment (as archdean) came for Canon Thomas de Guimarano, an unlettered man, to whom some years ago they did not dare to grant permission to hear confessions on the galleys, where he was chaplain.  Therefore, Archbishop Don Fray Miguel de Benavides wrote these words to your Majesty in the year 604, the copy of which is in my possession.  “Don Pedro de Acuna gave a chaplaincy in the seminary of Santa Potenciana to one of his followers, who lives in his palace, one Thomas de Guimarano—­a man of so little capacity that the said archdean and commissary of the Holy Office examined him at my order, in order that he might hear confessions in the galley, whose chaplain he was, and did not find him capable of doing it.”  Such are the words of the said archbishop as to his ignorance.  He has almost no capacity for management.  If he were seen in this dignity people would greatly blame him who should have conferred it on him without having first notified your Majesty of his unfitness.  This is the reason why I have kept the two appointments of the said Guimarano and Santiago de Castro sealed, as they came, and guarded with all secrecy, until your Majesty could be advised.  Your royal will, I am sure, is that these appointments be not given to them, thereby entailing so much loss of prestige to the Church, and scandal to the city.  On the other hand, there is no lack, the office of dean being filled by Licentiate Don Francisco Gomez de Arellano, a man of good conduct and of exemplary life, in approbation of whom letters have been written to your Majesty at various times. [Marginal note:  “Provision has already been made herein.”]

Inasmuch as your Majesty’s appointment, and the favor that you were pleased to grant him in conferring on him the dignity of treasurer of this holy church, came for Licentiate Don Miguel Garcetas (of whose good qualities I have written during these last years); and inasmuch as, by his taking possession of that office, that of precentor fell vacant, which he was filling ad interim:  the governor presented for it Don Juan Cevicos, a priest of good education, very great austerity and exemplary life, and zealous for the general welfare.  In him are also found